Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Thanks Iowa City Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Here is a note I posted to the student group at the BJJ Academy I train at

Tonight marked the start of my second year training at ICBJJ. Doesn't seem like it has been that long. I started training for purely selfish reasons. I had a hole in my self defense plan. I have always been a gun guy, I whole heartedly think every one should know how to manage basic trauma but I hadn't done any close contact training for years. Contrary to popular belief Green Berets don't get taught special ninja shit. You learn basic hand to hand techniques and move on. Anyway I digress. I tried Krav Maga for a year but even though they claim to be realistic when I tried the techniques against a motivated attacker they were not effective. ICBJJ was recommended to me through a circle of common friends. My first few months were a blur as nothing seemed to sink in. I still struggle chaining moves together and often find myself in the middle of a roll trying to remember that one move we learned that would be perfect for this situation and failing. But in the last year I have met some great, open, friendly and committed people. ICBJJ is truly a place you can safely fail with no judgement. It is only through putting yourself in uncomfortable positions that you harden your will and cultivate mindset. I just want to thank you all for kicking my butt. Smash,pass,mount choke it's that simple